Clinical Summary
Oral Cancer: Screening
November 15, 2013
Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
| Table of Contents |
|---|
| Population | Asymptomatic adults aged 18 years or older |
|---|---|
| Recommendation | No recommendation. Grade: I Statement |
| Risk Assessment | The primary risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol use. Additional risk factors include male sex, older age, use of betel quid, ultraviolet light exposure, infection withCandida or bacterial flora, and a compromised immune system.
Recently, sexually transmitted oral human papillomavirus infection has been recognized as an increasing risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer, another subset of head and neck cancer. |
| Screening Tests | The primary screening test for oral cancer is a systematic clinical examination, including inspection and palpation of the oral cavity. |
| Treatment | Suspected oral cancer or its precursors detected on examination require confirmation by tissue biopsy. Treatment for screen-detected oral cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. |
| Balance of Benefits and Harms | The USPSTF found inadequate evidence on the diagnostic accuracy, benefits, and harms of screening for oral cancer. Therefore, the USPSTF cannot determine the balance of benefits and harms of screening for oral cancer in asymptomatic adults. |
| Other Relevant USPSTF Recommendations | The USPSTF has made recommendations on counseling to prevent tobacco use and screening for and counseling to reduce alcohol misuse. These recommendations are available at https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. |
For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making these recommendations, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, please go to https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.
Disclaimer: Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.